U.S. patent number 5,042,664 [Application Number 07/437,533] was granted by the patent office on 1991-08-27 for utility bag.
Invention is credited to Godfrey Shyr, Michael Shyr.
United States Patent |
5,042,664 |
Shyr , et al. |
August 27, 1991 |
Utility bag
Abstract
A soft-sided utility bag having a hinged door-like end opening
is provided, wherein a plurality of shelves can be used to divide
the bag enclosure into two or more compartments. The shelves are
supported by flexible suspension structures which can be easily
displaced out of the way when not in use. The shelves can be
conveniently stored within the bag when the full, undivided volume
of the bag is needed. In some embodiments of the invention, the bag
is collapsible for easy storage and/or transport.
Inventors: |
Shyr; Michael (Alhambra,
CA), Shyr; Godfrey (Taipei, TW) |
Family
ID: |
23736834 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/437,533 |
Filed: |
November 16, 1989 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/579; 190/109;
190/110; 190/112 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C
13/02 (20130101); A45C 3/00 (20130101); A45C
7/0077 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45C
13/02 (20060101); A45C 7/00 (20060101); A45C
13/00 (20060101); A45C 3/00 (20060101); B65D
069/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/579
;190/9,102,103,107,109,110,112 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Fidei; David T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Anderson; Denton L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A utility bag comprising:
(a) a bag enclosure, having an exterior and an interior, the bag
enclosure comprising (i) first and second vertical side walls
having interior surfaces and exterior surfaces, and being generally
rectangular in shape and disposed spaced-apart parallel to one
another, (ii) a top wall, (iii) a bottom wall, (iv) a rearward end
wall, and (v) a forward end wall, wherein the forward end wall can
be moved from a first forward end wall position wherein the
interior of the bag enclosure is exposed and a second forward end
wall position wherein the interior of the bag enclosure is not
exposed;
(b) handle means attached to the bag enclosure for lifting the
bag;
(c) a rearward flexible shelf support member disposed proximate to
the rearward wall comprising (i) first and second vertical straps
each having an upper end and a lower end, the upper ends of the
first and second vertical straps being attached on the opposing
interior surfaces of the vertical side walls and (ii) a first
transverse strap having first and second ends, the first end being
attached to the first vertical strap a distance d.sub.1 above the
bottom wall and the second end being attached to the second
vertical strap a distance d.sub.1 above the bottom wall; wherein
each of the first and second vertical straps is attached to a
vertical wall at an attachment point which is disposed at a
distance below the top wall, such distance being less than the
distance between the attachment point and the first transverse
strap so that the rearward flexible shelf support member can be
pushed out of the way to allow the use of the entire bag enclosure
volume; and
(d) a forward flexible shelf support member disposed proximate to
the forward wall comprising (i) third and fourth vertical straps
each having an upper end and a lower end, the upper ends of the
third and fourth vertical straps being attached on the opposing
interior surfaces of the vertical side walls and (ii) a second
transverse strap having first and second ends, the first end being
attached to the third vertical strap a distance d.sub.1 above the
bottom wall and the second end being attached to the fourth
vertical strap a distance d.sub.1 above the bottom wall; wherein
each of the third and fourth vertical straps is attached to a
vertical wall at an attachment point which is disposed at a
distance below the top wall, such distance being less than the
distance between the attachment point and the second transverse
strap so that the forward flexible shelf support member can be
pushed out of the way to allow the use of the entire bag enclosure
volume;
whereby a planar first shelf having a forward end, a rearward end,
a width approximately equal to the distance between the first and
second vertical side walls, and a length approximately equal to the
distance between the rearward end wall and the forward wall can be
disposed within the bag enclosure parallel to and spaced apart from
the bottom wall by supporting the rearward end of the first shelf
on the first transverse strip of the rearward shelf support member
and by supporting the forward end of the first shelf on the second
transverse strap of the forward shelf support member.
2. The utility bag of claim 1 further comprising:
(a) a third transverse strap having first and second ends, the
first end being attached to the first vertical strap a distance
d.sub.2 above the bottom wall and the second end being attached to
the second vertical strap a distance d.sub.2 above the bottom
wall;
(b) a fourth transverse strap having first and second ends, the
first and end being attached to the third vertical strap a distance
d.sub.2 above the bottom wall and the second end being attached to
the fourth vertical strap a distance d.sub.2 above the bottom
wall;
wherein distance d.sub.2 is less than d.sub.1.
3. The utility bag of claim 1 wherein the bag enclosure is
collapsible.
4. The utility bag of claim 1 further comprising at least one
planar shelf having a forward end, a rearward end, a width
approximately equal to the distance between the first and second
vertical side walls, and a length approximately equal to the
distance between the rearward end wall and the forward end wall,
the shelf being disposed within the bag enclosure parallel to and
spaced apart from the bottom wall by being supported at its
rearward end by the rearward shelf support member and at its
forward end by the forward shelf support member.
5. The utility bag of claim 2 further comprising two planar
shelves, a lower shelf and an upper shelf, each shelf having a
forward end, a rearward end, a width approximately equal to the
distance between the first and second vertical side walls and a
length approximately equal to the distance between the rearward end
wall and the forward end wall, the upper shelf being disposed
within the bag enclosure parallel to and spaced apart from the
bottom wall by being supported at its rearward end by the first
transverse strap and at its forward end by the second transverse
strap, and the lower shelf being disposed within the bag enclosure
parallel to and spaced apart from the bottom wall by being
supported at its rearward end by the third transverse strap and at
its forward end by the fourth transverse strap.
6. The utility bag of claim 1 further comprising a bottom shelf
with a forward end and a rearward end and having a width
approximately equal to the distance between the first and second
vertical side walls and a length approximately equal to the
distance between the rearward end wall and the forward end wall,
the bottom shelf being disposed within the bag enclosure and
supported by the bottom wall.
7. The utility bag of claim 6 wherein the forward end of the bottom
shelf is affixed to the interior of the bag enclosure proximate to
the forward end wall and wherein the rearward end of the bottom
shelf is affixed to the interior of the bag enclosure proximate to
the rearward end wall.
8. The utility bag of claim 7 wherein the bottom shelf is attached
to the two frame members in a reversible manner.
9. The utility bag of claim 8 wherein the bottom shelf is attached
to the interior of the bag enclosure with snaps.
10. The utility bag of claim 1 further comprising fastener means
for reversibly attaching the planer shelf to at least one of the
transverse straps.
11. The utility bag of claim 10 wherein the fastener means are
snaps.
12. The utility bag of claim 1 further comprising strap attaching
means for reversibly attaching a portion of at least one of the
vertical straps proximate to its lower end to the interior surface
of the vertical side wall.
13. The utility bag of claim 12 wherein the attachment means are
hook and loop fasteners.
14. The utility bag of claim 12 wherein at least one of the
vertical straps can be reversibly attached to the interior surface
of the vertical wall at more than one elevation above the bottom
wall.
15. A utility bag comprising:
(a) forward and rearward generally rectangular frame members having
approximately equal dimensions and each consisting of first and
second parallel spaced-apart elongate vertical frame elements and
upper and lower parallel spaced-apart elongate horizontal frame
elements, the forward and rearward frame members each defining a
frame member opening between their respective four frame
elements;
(b) an enclosure skin comprised of four generally rectangular
flexible planar walls having interior and exterior surfaces: (i) a
first side wall disposed non-tautly between the first vertical
elements of the two frame members, (ii) a second side wall disposed
non-tautly between the second vertical elements of the two frame
members, (iii) a top wall disposed nontautly between the upper
elements of the two frame members, and (iv) a bottom wall disposed
non-tautly between the lower elements of the two frame members, the
two side walls being attached to the top and bottom walls along
parallel contiguous edges so that the four walls form an enclosure
having an interior and an exterior and having a generally
rectangular cross-section;
(c) a generally rectangular rearward end closure member having a
pair of parallel side edges with approximately the same lengths as
the vertical elements of the rearward frame member, and an upper
edge and a lower edge with approximately the same lengths as the
horizontal elements of the rearward frame member, the rearward end
closure member being attached to the four walls of the enclosure
proximate to the rearward frame member to form an enclosing
rearward end wall;
(d) a forward end closure member having a pair of parallel side
edges with approximately the same lengths as the vertical elements
of the forward frame member, and an upper edge and a lower edge
with approximately the same lengths as the horizontal elements of
the forward frame member;
(e) means for attaching the forward end closure member to the four
walls of the enclosure so as to form a closeable forward end wall
which is alternatively movable from a first forward end closure
position wherein the forward end closure member covers the forward
frame member opening and a second forward end closure position
wherein the forward end closure member does not cover the forward
frame member opening;
(f) a handle attached to the outside of the bag enclosure for
lifting the bag;
(g) at least one flexible shelf support member comprising (i) two
flexible vertical straps having upper ends and lower ends, the
upper ends being attached on the interior of opposing side walls
proximate to the top wall and at equal heights above the lower
wall, (ii) a lower transverse strap having first and second ends,
the first end of the lower strap being attached proximate to the
lower end of the first vertical strap and the second end of the
lower strap being attached proximate to the lower end of the second
vertical strap, and (iii) at least one upper transverse strap
having first and second ends, the first end of the upper transverse
strap being attached to the first vertical strap at a location
intermediate between the upper end of the first vertical strap and
the first end of the lower transverse strap and the second end of
the upper transverse strap being attached to the second vertical
strap intermediate between the upper end of the second vertical
strap and the second end of the lower transverse strap;
(h) at least one shelf having a width approximately equal to the
distance between the first and second vertical side walls, and a
length approximately equal to the distance between the rearward end
wall and the forward end wall, the shelf being disposed within the
bag enclosure supported by one of the two transverse straps;
(i) fastener means for reversibly attaching a shelf to at least one
of the transverse straps;
(j) strap attaching means for reversibly attaching a portion of
each vertical strap proximate to its lower end to the interior
surface of the vertical side wall; and
(k) a bottom shelf with a forward end and a rearward end and having
a width approximately equal to the distance between the first and
second vertical side walls and a length approximately equal to the
distance between the rearward end wall and the forward end wall,
the bottom shelf being disposed within the bag enclosure and
reversibly attached at its forward end to the forward frame member
and at its rearward end to the rearward frame member.
16. The utility bag of claim 15 wherein the distance between the
first and second vertical elements of each frame member is between
about three inches and about 12 inches, the distance between the
upper and lower horizontal frame elements is between about 6 inches
and about 24 inches and the distance between the two frame members
is between about 8 inches and about 36 inches.
17. The utility bag of claim 15 wherein the enclosure skin is
comprised of canvas.
18. The utility bag of claim 15 wherein the enclosure skin is
comprised of a foam insulation material.
19. The utility bag of claim 15 wherein the rearward end closure
member is expandable.
20. The utility bag of claim 15 wherein the forward end closure
member is attached to the bag enclosure with a hinge.
21. The utility bag of claim 15 wherein the means for attaching the
forward end closure member comprises a zipper disposed along the
side edges of the forward end closure members and the side edges of
the four walls of the bag enclosure.
Description
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to utility bags and
specifically to soft-sided utility bags useful as locker bags and
for airline carry-on bags.
Soft-sided utility bags have become increasingly popular for use as
airline carry-on baggage and as sports locker bags. Such soft-sided
bags have been found to be sufficiently sturdy, relatively
attractive and very lightweight and easy to carry.
An especially popular bag is a generally rectangular utility bag
such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,008. In this type of
utility bag, a hinged end enclosure opens in doorlike fashion to
give access to the interior of the bag. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,008
a bag is disclosed which further comprises a shelf for dividing the
bag enclosure into two compartments. The shelf is supported on
flexible straps and can be displaced out of the way against the
back of the bag when an uninterrupted single volume is
desirable.
It would be desirable to have a bag such as those disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,752,008 which has more than one displaceable shelf so
that the bag could be divided into more than two compartments. This
would be especially convenient for use as a sports locker bag where
one compartment could be used for sports shoes, another compartment
for a uniform or workout clothing and a third compartment for
baseball caps, sweat bands, sunglasses, etc. Unfortunately, no such
bag is known to exist. It would also be desirable for a bag such as
those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,008 to be collapsible so
that it could be folded down for convenient storage or transport.
Unfortunately, no such bag is known to exist.
There is therefore a need for a soft-sided utility bag having a
hinged door-like end whose interior volume can be divided into more
than two compartments by horizontal shelves which are within the
bag.
There is also a need for such a utility bag which is collapsible
for convenient storage and/or transport.
SUMMARY
The invention satisfies these needs.
The invention is a utility bag having a generally rectangular
cross-section comprising six generally rectangular walls: a pair of
opposed vertical side walls, a pair of opposed vertical end walls,
a top wall and a bottom wall. One of the end walls acts as a door
to the interior of the bag enclosure. On the interior of the bag,
there is disposed at least one flexible shelf support member
comprising two flexible vertical straps, each attached at a top end
to the interior surface of one of the vertical side walls so that
the two vertical straps hang downwardly along the opposed vertical
side walls. A lower transverse strap is attached at its opposite
ends to the two vertical straps at or proximate to the lower end of
each such vertical strap. An upper transverse strap is likewise
attached at its opposite ends to the two vertical straps at
locations midway between the upper end of each vertical strap and
the location on each vertical strap where is attached the lower
transfer strap. By this configuration, the flexible support member
provides an upper and a lower flexible shelf support. One or two
rigid shelves having widths approximately equal to the width of the
utility bag can be supported by the flexible support member to
divide the bag enclosure into multiple compartments. When shelves
are not desired, the flexible shelf support members can be pushed
out of the way so that the full vertical height of the bag
enclosure can be used.
Where the flexible straps which comprise the flexible shelf support
member are relatively wide, a single flexible shelf support member
can be employed. In a typical embodiment, however, two opposed
flexible shelf support members, each comprised of relatively narrow
flexible straps, are disposed at opposite ends of the bag
enclosure. Each flexible shelf support member is adapted to support
one end of one or more rigid shelves.
In another embodiment, the bag enclosure is comprised of oppositely
disposed, spaced-apart frame members surrounded by a flexible skin
such as canvas. In this embodiment, the bag can be collapsed. When
additional rigidity is desired, however, an additional shelf is
reversibly attached to the oppositely disposed frame along the
bottom wall.
(The concept of reversible attachment as used in this application
means attachment in such a way that the elements so attached can be
alternatively de-attached and re-attached with ease and speed, and
generally without tools. Examples of devices commonly used for
reversible attachment are snaps, hooks, buttons, zippers and
hook-and-loop fasteners such as those sold under the Velcro.RTM.
trademark.)
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become understood with reference to the following
description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a utility bag having features of
the invention;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the utility bag of FIG. 1 illustrating how
the forward end closure wall is pivoted away from the bag enclosure
to expose the interior of the bag enclosure;
FIG. 3 is a perspective-cross-sectional view of the utility bag of
FIG. 1 illustrating the configuration of two flexible shelf support
members and three rigid shelves;
FIG. 4 is a perspective, partial cross-sectional view of a second
utility bag having features of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the utility bag of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a top view of the utility bag of FIG. 5 illustrating how
the utility bag can be folded to collapse;
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a utility bag 10 having a bag enclosure 12, a
carrying handle 14 and at least one flexible shelf support member
16 for the internal support of one or more rigid shelves 18.
The bag enclosure 12 has a generally rectangular cross-section and
is comprised of six walls, a pair of opposed vertical side walls
20, a pair of opposed end walls (rearward end closure member 22 and
forward end closure member 24), a top wall 26 and a bottom wall
28.
Each of the walls has a generally rectangular shape. The walls can
be rigid, but preferably, the walls are flexible so that the bag 10
can be made collapsible. Where flexible side walls 20 are employed,
the walls are supported by a pair of opposed, generally
rectangular, rigid frame members 30 having approximately equal
dimensions. For example, each frame member 30 can be comprised of
first and second parallel, spaced-apart elongate vertical frame
elements 32 and 34 and upper and lower parallel spaced-apart
elongate horizontal frame elements 36 and 38, attached end to end
to form a rectangular frame structure defining a frame member
opening 40 between the respective four frame elements. The frame
elements can be of any suitable material, such as wood, metal,
plastics or composites. In a typical embodiment, the frame members
30 are composed of metal wire.
As noted above, the side walls 20 can be rigid or flexible. When
rigid walls 20 are desired, the walls 20 can be made of a light
metal, a plastic or a composite material. Where flexible walls 20
are desirable, the walls 20 can be made of any thin flexible
material, such as cloth, flexible plastic or rubber. A preferred
material is a stiff canvas because of its relative rigidity,
durability, light weight and ease with which it can be fastened
together.
Alternatively, the side walls 20 can comprise an insulating
material 42 such as a flexible plastic foam. Use of such an
insulating material 42 minimizes the temperature variations within
the interior of the bag enclosure 12. In one embodiment, the side
walls 20 are comprised of a composite material with a canvas outer
layer 44, an insulating polyurethane foam center layer 42 and a
nylon inner lining layer 46.
The two end walls, the rearward end closure member 22 and the
forward end closure member 24, are attached at opposite ends of the
bag enclosure 12. The rearward end closure member 22 is generally
rectangular and has a pair of parallel side edges 48 with
approximately the same lengths as the vertical side walls 20 and an
upper edge 50 and a lower edge 52 with approximately the same
lengths as the transverse width of the top wall 26 and bottom wall
28. The rearward end closure member 22 is attached to the two
vertical side walls 20 and to the top and bottom walls 26 and 28
along corresponding parallel contiguous edges so that the rearward
end closure 22 effectively seals the rearward end of the bag
enclosure 12.
The rearward end enclosure 22 can be made of any convenient
lightweight material. Flexible materials and lightweight
non-flexible materials can be used. In a typical embodiment, the
rearward end enclosure 22 is manufactured from the same material as
the side and top walls 20 and 26.
The external side of the rearward end enclosure 22 can include a
variety of pockets (not shown) for conveniently storing small,
miscellaneous items.
In one embodiment, the rearward end closure member 22 is expandable
to provide an alternative additional enclosure compartment 54. The
expandability is provided by an expansion frame member 56 having
equal dimensions to the rearward frame member 22, and a continuous,
foldable expansion skin 58 attached about the circumference of the
expansion frame member 56 along its rearward edge 60 and
stretchable between the rearward frame member 22 and the expansion
frame member 56. The expansion-produced additional enclosure
compartment 54 can thereby be created with the expansion skin 58
forming opposing parallel expansion skin side walls 62, an
expansion skin top wall 64 and an expansion skin bottom wall 66,
the rearward closure element 22 forming a first end wall and the
expansion frame member 56 forming the second end wall. Access to
the additional enclosure compartment 54 can be achieved through an
expansion compartment opening 68 which can be alternatively sealed
and unsealed with a fastening device 70 such as a conventional
zipper. The additional enclosure compartment 54 can be
alternatively compressed and expanded by an external fastening
device 72, such as a conventional zipper as shown in FIG. 4.
The forward end closure member 24 forms a doorway for access to the
bag enclosure 12. Preferably the forward end closure member 24 is
attached to one of the vertical side walls 20 with a hinge device
74 so that the forward end closure member 24 can be swung outwardly
away from the bag enclosure 12. In this embodiment, the forward end
closure member 24 can alternatively be closed against the vertical
side walls 20, top wall 26 and bottom wall 28 to effectively seal
the forward end of the bag enclosure 12. The sealing means 76 is a
reversible attachment means, such as a conventional zipper
circumscribing the non-hinged interface between the side walls 20
and top and bottom walls 26 and 28 and the forward end closure
member 24.
The forward end closure member 24 can be made from any convenient
lightweight continuous material, such as a plastic, lightweight
metal or cloth. In a typical embodiment, the forward end closure
member 24 is made from the same material as comprises the side
walls 20 and the top wall 26.
A variety of pockets 78 may be disposed within both the external
side and the internal side of the forward end closure member 24 for
conveniently storing small miscellaneous items.
The carrying handle 14 of any convenient type and shape is attached
to the exterior of the bag enclosure 12 to permit the bag 10 to be
picked up and carried. In the embodiment illustrated in the
drawings, the handle 14 comprises two flexible handle straps 80.
The ends of each strap 80 are attached spaced-apart near the upper
edge of one of the side walls 20. The two handle straps 80 are
attached together to form a single handle grip 82 by a flexible
clasp 84. The clasp 84 can be permanently attached to the two
handle straps 80. In the alternative, the clasp 84 can be held
together with a reversible fastener (not shown) such as a snap or a
hook-and-loop fastener so that the clasp 84 can be easily removed
from the handle straps 80 when desired.
In the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, two spaced-apart
flexible shelf support members 16 are disposed within the interior
of the bag enclosure 12. Each shelf support member 16 is comprised
of two spaced-apart, opposing flexible vertical straps 86 and two
spaced-apart, opposing flexible transverse straps: lower transverse
strap 88 and upper transverse strap 89. Each flexible vertical
strap 86 is attached near its upper end 90 to the interior surface
of one of the side walls 20. Thus, the two vertical straps 86 are
disposed opposite each other, each hanging vertically downward from
an upper attachment point 92 along an interior surface of one of
the side walls 20.
The lower transverse strap 88 is attached between the two vertical
straps 86 near the lower ends 94 of the vertical straps 86. Each
end of the lower transverse strap 88 is attached to one of the
opposing vertical straps 86 at a distance d.sub.2 above the bottom
wall 28. The upper transverse strap 89 is likewise attached at
opposite ends to each of the two vertical straps 86 but
intermediate between the upper ends 90 of the vertical straps 86
and the locations where the lower transverse strap 88 is attached
to the two vertical straps 86. Each end of the upper transverse
strap 89 is attached to one of the opposing verticle straps 86 at a
distance d.sub.1 above the bottom wall 28. The distance d.sub.2 is
smaller than the distance d.sub.1. By this configuration, the two
transverse straps 88 and 89 form transverse, spaced-apart,
horizontal supporting elements capable of accepting and supporting
a rigid horizontal shelf 18 having a width less than or equal to
the distance between the two side walls 20. Each verticle strap 86
is attached to the interior surface of the sidewall 20 at a
distance below the top wall 26 which is less than the distance
between the point at which the verticle strap 86 is attached to the
sidewall 20 and the point at which the lower transverse 88 is
attached to the verticle strap 86. This feature allows the shelf
support member 16 to be displaced completely out of the way for
convenient sue of the entire bag enclosure volume.
As illustrated in the drawings, two flexible shelf support members
16 can be disposed longitudinally on the interior of the bag
enclosure 12 to form a rearward shelf support 96 and a forward
shelf support 98. It should be understood, however, that a single
shelf support member 16 comprised of straps with relatively large
widths could be employed in the invention.
The straps in the flexible shelf support members 16 can be made out
of any suitable flexible material. In a typical embodiment, the
straps are made from a woven cotton or nylon.
Preferably, the lower ends 94 of each of the vertical straps 86 can
be reversibly attached to the interior surface of the side wall 20
to which its upper end 90 is attached. Such reversible attachment
of the lower vertical strap ends 94 permits the flexible shelf
support members 16 to be made relatively rigid within the bag
enclosure 12 with relatively taut transverse straps 88 and 89.
In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower ends 94
of the vertical straps 86 are reversibly attached to the side walls
20 with a hook-and-loop fasteners 100. Snaps and other similar
reversible attachment means can be used. In an alternative
embodiment (not shown in the drawings) attachment means can be
disposed along the interior side of the vertical walls 20 at
several different elevations so that the height of the lower
transverse strap 88 of each of the flexible shelf support members
16 is adjustable upwardly.
One or more shelves 18 can be disposed within the bag enclosure 12
supported upon the transverse straps 88 and 89 of the flexible
shelf support members 16 to form a horizontal shelf. In the
embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a lower
shelf 102 is disposed upon and is supported by the lower transverse
straps 88 and an upper shelf 104 is disposed upon and supported by
the upper transverse straps 89.
Preferably, the shelves 18 are made of a lightweight, rigid
material. Woods, lightweight metals, plastics and composite
materials can be used.
Preferably, the shelves 18 have approximately the same widths as
the distance between the side walls 20 of the bag enclosure 12, and
approximately the same lengths as the distance between the two end
closure members 22 and 24. With these dimensions, the shelves 18,
when disposed upon the flexible shelf support members 16 within the
bag enclosure 12, impart to the bag enclosure 12 a significant
additional amount of rigidity.
It is important that the shelves 18 be easily removable from the
shelf support members 16 for flexibility in the use of the bag 10.
When not in use, the shelves 18 can be conveniently stored along
the bottom wall 28 of the bag 10. In embodiments of the invention
wherein the height of the bag 10 is greater than the length of the
shelves 18. The shelves 18 can be also stored against the rearward
end closure member 22. In such embodiments, the bag 10 remains
collapsible, even with the shelves 18 are stored within the bag
enclosure 12.
When neither of the two shelves 18 is in use or when only the upper
shelf 104 is being used, the unused portion of the shelf support
members 16 are easily displaced out of the way for full and
convenient use of the remainder of the bag enclosure volume.
In the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, a third rigid
bottom shelf 106 is disposed along the bottom wall 28 of the bag
enclosure 12, permanently attached at the rearward frame member 30
by a hinge attachment 108 and reversibly attached to the forward
frame member with a snap 110. When it is desirable to collapse the
bag 10, the bottom shelf 106 is conveniently rotated upwardly along
the hinge attachment 108 until it is contiguous with the rearward
end enclosure member 22. Other reversible attachment means, such as
hook-and-loop fasteners can, of course, be used. Also, the rearward
end of the bottom shelf 106 need not be permanently affixed at the
rearward frame member 30 but can also be reversibly attached. In
any case, the attachment of this bottom shelf 106 at the opposed
frame members 30 imparts a considerable degree of rigidity to the
bag 10.
As illustrated in the drawings, the external surface of the bag
enclosure 12 can also include a variety of pockets and compartments
112 for the storage of miscellaneous items.
As can be seen from the foregoing, the utility bag of the invention
is very useful as a tote bag, gym bag, carry-on airline luggage,
pullman bag, etc. It is light and easy to carry. It can be easily
subdivided into several interior compartments by the insertion of
one or detachable shelves. Many embodiments of the bag are fully
collapsible for easy storage and/or for easy transport within other
luggage.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable
detail with reference to certain preferred versions, other versions
are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended
claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the
preferred versions contained herein.
* * * * *